Method of treating pieces of material of non-uniform moisture content to an impregnating fluid.



G. Ht HESS, METHOD 0F TBEATING PiECEs 0F MATERIAL oF NoN-UNIFORM MOISTURE coNENT lT0 AN tMPRElSNATING FLUH).

maremma HLED MM' 11. 1911.

Patennted Oct. 2, 1917 lili @gorge G1 H` HFSS.

www uf fammi; Hants 0F Mmm 0F mmummam mmsmn comun 10 AN IMFHEGNAUHG FLUID. l`

APPUCAHUN HLED MAY 1e. 1111;.

1,241,973. Patented Get. 2, 12M?.

G. H. HESS.

METHOD 0F TREAUNG Piscis 0F MATERIAL uf NaN-UNIFORM Molswaf commi To AN IMPREGNAHNG FLUID.

APPLICAUUN man MAY Il, :911.

1,241,973. Patented out. 2, mi;

5 SHETS-SHEET 3.

G. H HFSS.

METHUD UF TREAUNG mais or mmm/u mf mumuwoam Mmswaf @mmm 1o AN mwfwmmf; um.

APHICATION HLE MAY I I, lui?.

1,241,973. www@ fr I 1,9'

GA H. HFSS.

METHOD 0F TREMING PIECES of MATERML 0F NoN-ummm MolSURE coNEN T0 AN MPREGNATING FLUiD.

APPLscAmN FILED MAY Il. |911.

1,241,973. Patented Oct. 2, 191i.

5 SHEESSHEET 5.

UNITED "STATES PATENT OEE-ICE.

GEORGE H. HESS, 0F LA GRANGE PARK, ILLINOIS.

METHOD 0F TBEATING PIECES 0F MATERIAL 015' NON-UNIFORM MIBTURE CONTENT T0 AN IMPREGNATING FLUID.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1917.

Application led May l?. 1917. Serial No. 188,263

1o au 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, Geenen H. Haes, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grange Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Method ofTreating Pieces of Mate rial of Non-Uniform Moisture Content to an Impregnating Fluid, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to the process of treating particles of non-uniform moisturecontent to an impregnating fluid, generally, but more particularly to the treatment of wood fiber, as for example wood chips, in the manufacture of paper pulp, this being the use for 'which my invention was more particularly produced and which treatment involves; the subjection of the wood chips to the action of a chemical solution into which the chips are introduced in accordance with common practice.

It is desirable in the treatment of materials to impregnating fiuirls, as for example `Wood chips in the 'digesting or cooking operation, that the particles of materials ou introduction into the impregnation fluid he of substantially low, and substantially uniform, moisturecontent in order that the action of the fluid upon the'fihere of the partiY cles be uniform, a reeult which cannot he ac` complisherl unless the particles.' present ,a auhelantially uniform moisture content owing to the fact that the existence of the moisture in the particles (lilutes the improli;w nationF fluif in the proportion in which the moisture is present, and if the dilution is not uniform the action oi' the fluid is conse 'quently not uniform. thia resulting iu under,

auch character that tluI paper marie from itr is not of as goed a grade as the paper made from pul free from under-digested or overdigestedl fiber, and particularly as regards the making of paper hy the sullite process, the laclr of uniformity of the moisture-content in the chipa results. in the production of paper of irregular' color or shade.

The actual conditions as met in the prac.- tice of manufacturing paper pulp, are uch as to present relatively lgreat obstacles to be overcome, from a commercial stamlpoint, to the carrying, out' of this most desirable man ner of treating the materials. It le the cornv- .mou practice to furnish the raw material to the factoriee where the wood pulp or other material is to he produced. m the form of logs which in tluI voui-Se of their traneit to the factory are suhiectml lo the Weather and usually have heen floated down streams wherein they are exposed to the water for such lengths of time that they become partially Water-soalreiij and practically invariably auch log is water-soaked to a non-uni form degree, the greatest amount of mois- 4ture lying at the outer surface of the log ami being graduated in moisture-content, towarrl the center thereof, the moisture-content also depending upon the kind of Wood 0f which the log;` is formed. These logs, in auf cmrlance withA common practice, are acted upon by chipping machines which .rerillce them to chips; of the desired eine, the chippingr operatione continuing until the lor;` is practically entirelj.' cui away. without regard to the segregation of' chips of lifierent moi@ iure-content, e@ ih would he practically im possiblii'rom :l couunercial Htarulpoin't. The chips ith-er in their wet condition, or after being .Quhjerlml to artilicial heal to dry them, are; then intrlulurell into (he chemical solutiene. lu Pillar eveut'the chips are lacking the characteristic of substantially uniform' moistisrv-content. though they would be drier in the om` cave than in the other, and because of this fact would h'e in better condition for llw Irraltlnent than if not driefl at all. Nevertheless the chips which were dried would. lui-cause of.lhe nou-uniform moisture- (foutent, present pointeel out.

My primal-5I object, generally Stated, is to provide n novel and highly feasible method, from a commercial standpoint, ci.' treating particles of non-uniform moisture-content to nu impregnating Huid, to produce acrel-` tively perfect and 'uniform product, and more especially to improve upon the process of manufacturing paper pulp from wood 100 the objections as above ticles to become i throughout the mass, anll thereafter sub-v chips, to the end that wood pulp may be more economical] produced, and be produced of such grade as to improve the product manufactured therefrom.V

Generally stated, my improvement consists in causing the particles of non-uniform moisture-content and which are to be treated with the impregnating fluid, to remain in contact with each other, preferably after they have been artificially dried, in an suitable container, for a length of time su cient to cause the moisture in the mass of arsubsta'ntially equallzed )eating them to the desired impregnating f fluid, which in the case of the manufacture of paper pulpwouldbe a digesting fluid which may be `the kind usually employed, the equalization above referred to being effected by the damper particles giving up a portion of their moist-ure and the less damp particles absorbing it, the length of time that the particles are required to rcmain in contact with each other to produce this result dependingr upon the degree of moisture in thc particles, the character of the particles and the temperature.

Any suitable apparatus for practising my improved method may be employed, certain desirable constructions therefor when the Vinvention is practised in the preferred manner for the manufacture of wood-pulp, being shown in the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure l is a view in elevation, nature of a diagram of one form of apparatras suitable for carrying out my improved method, the apparatus shown being more particularly suited for the manufacture of paper pulp and involving a digester for wood chips.

Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. 1 of the digester thereof and adjacent parts, this View being partly sectional.

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1 but more in detail and showing certain ofthe parts in section.

Fig. 3 is a view in sectional elevation and partly broken away, showing a desirable construction of racks for, the drier portiomof the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a section taken at the line/4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in thedirection of the arrow.

and in the Fig. 5 is ai View in vertical sectional clevatiou of a mmliicatirm of the bin into which the drier discharges.

Fig. 6 is a View like Fig. 1 of another construction of apparatus suitable for carrying out my improved method.

Fig. 7 is a broken view like Fig. 5 taken in a vertical plane in Fig. 6 midway between opposed walls of the bin which is superposed by the drier.

Fig. 8 is s. view like Fig. l of still an- "cally, as illustrated of the rack other form of apparatus by which my improved method may be practised.

ig. 9 is an enlarged view in vertical sectional elevation of one of the similar equalzmg receptacles of the fstructure shown in ig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of still another form of construction by which my improved method may be practised; and

Fig. 11, a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 10.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive involves a drier represented at 10 into which the particles to be dried, as for example the wood chips, are introduced and through which they pass and during` such passage are subjected air; a bin or receptacle 11 wherein the equalizing of the moisture in the particles, takes place, this bin being in communication with the discharge of the Vdrier 10; a charging bin 12 located above the bin 11 and adapted to receive from the latter, as through the medium of the lilo-wer apparatus shown at 11, the particles, the moisture-content of which, is equalized in the bin 11; and a digester 13which is suplplied with charges of the particles, from t e storage bin 12, a valve 12 being located between the bin-12 and digester 13 and the latter having an outlet-valve 13.

The type of drier 1U represented in the drawings is that involving a plurality of uprightly disposed racks 14, the end walls of which are represented at 15 in Fig. 3, these racks extending parallel with each other and having opposed walls open to the passage therethrough of the drying medium, as for example heated air, in accordance with the practice which is common to drying apparatus in general, the said opposed walls ofthe racks through which the air passes to perform the drying function, being preferably formed of upright series of louvered plates 16 which are so arranged that the plates 16 of one series converge rolative to the plates 16 of the opposite series thereof, with the plates spaced apart vertiin Fig. 3. The upper ends of the racks 14 open into a garner, or bin, 17 the bottom of which is formed of a series of angle-shaped plates 18 which are' spaced apart and close 17, except to the upper ends of the racks 14, this bin being provided to receive the partclcs to be dried. The racks 14 contain in t loir sented at 19, these feeding devices being to drying currents of` lower portions, feeding devices, repre-` the bin mounted on shafts 20 jolu'nuled in the opposite end walls of the racks 14.' The feed devices.I 149 are provided about their peripheries with a series of pockets 21 formeclbetween longitudinaliy-cxtending teeth thereon, cooperating with plates 22 to cause the discharge from the racks to be controlled hv the rotation of the devices 19, these devices being driven from a shaft 23 carrving bevel pinions 24 which mesh with bevel gears 24'* on the shafts 20.

The bin il is of such construction that in the drawing oil' of particles therefrom at its lower end to charge the digester i3, the mass ol particles will descend therein substantiallv uniformly, or in other Words, all of the particles discharged from this bin will be those 'which wont into the bin first, as distinguished f rom the comminglin of the particles which entered the bin at tunes relatively remote to eachother, this being effected in the constructin shown in Fig. 3 by the substantially pyramidsh'aped deflector 25 coperating with the central pyramid-shaped discharge portion 26 of the bin 1]., to which portion said defiector is secured to be spaced therefrom and provide a continuous space between the lower edges of the dci'iector 25 and the adjacent surfaces of the walls of the portion 26 as shown.

In building un apparatus to carr out my improved method it is necessary t at it be so constructed that the particles-i to be subjected to the moisture equalizing process, be

permitted to remain in Contact with' each other prior to the impregnating fluid treatment, as for example in a digester, for a length of time suiiicient to produce the desired equalization of the moisture therein, the length ot time required for this, manifestly varying with the character of the particles to be treated andthe moisture-content thereof. Furthermore the amount of particles drawn from the equalizin portion it the apparat ns for treatment am? the fre querwy with which the apparatus is thus drawn on or rilaierial, are elements which would he crinsitercil in determining the pro portions of the apparatus for any particu lbf mliMililvli'g. let' it be' :o: funs-il tllzrt itJ'UquiI'fS 8 llOXllS t0 (lignei u cino-ge of woodjvhor in the digcster 13. and thus requiring three separate charges of particles per day for the continuous operation of the digcstcr, and that the material which is treated in the digester is wood fiber and the particular wood fiber employed requires approximately 16 hours to effect moisture equalization for all practical purposes; the bin l1 would preferably be of such proportions that its capacity would be substantially equal to three times the capacity of the digostcr 13 and the drier 10 would he of such proportions and so opor- 4ated that it would insure, by reason of the output of the drier for .any given time, the particles remaining in the hin ll for at least lf3 hours. it' the drier were acontinuously opor-:ding element. it wouiil preferably have a ca pacitjf fm2/- iiours oit' substantially three timos that of thc rligestr, under the conditions above stated, but if the drier were of For purposes ot' illustration greater capacity it would be o erated intermittently to refill the bin 11 a ter the equalized particles are drawn therefrom.

In the operation of the apparatus -as ,the

charges are dumped from the digester, with an interval of 8 hours between each discharge, and thedigest/er replenished with' course of the movement of the particles from the drier 10 to the digester those which later enter as a charge into the digester, are caused to remain in close contact with each other for a length of time sullicient to effect. the uniform distribution of ,he moisture in the particles throughout the .mass 'thereof the fact that the particles are dischar from the drier in avheated condition, an in such condition are caused to liev in contact with each other causin the Adissemination of the moisture throng out the mass to be more quickly efected. l

It may be stated that while the apparatus should be so constructed that the particles to be subjected to the fluid-impregnatn treatment, should remain in contact wit each other for a sufiicient length of time to produce the desired degree of moisture equalization, and while from a comercial standpoint and under ordinary conditions it probably would be more economical to cause the particles to contact with each other only for such a length of time as is re quired to produce the desired moisture equalization, the apparatus may be so oonstructed or so operated in carrying out my method that the particles may remain in juxtaposed position and in contact with each other for a length of time eater than that required to produce the esired degree of moisture equalization, without eil'ectlpg any harmful results.

Referring to the struetureshown in Fig. 5f, this ligure is intended to show a slight modification of the bin 11. In this case the means which provide for the uniform lowering of the material in the bin 1l throughout its cross-sectional area as the particles are withdrawn from the opening in its bottom portion 26, instead of being provided of the form shown' in Fig. 3, are composed of a plurality of vertical series of deector plates 27, these lates being of inverted trough form as illustrated. Each alternate series 27 extend at right angles to the series thereof above and below the deflectors of alternate series extending m the same direction. being staggered as represented, the effect of thus providing the decctors 27 bein that of causing the particles to deseen substam tially uniformly through the bin 11 when the particles in the lower portion of the bin are discharged, a's distinguished from the particles at the upper portion of the mass pouring down through the center of the mass.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 6 is the same as that disclosed in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive except as to the equalizing bin, which in the constructions shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is represented at 28. This bin receives the dried particles from the superposed drier 10 as in the case of the previously described structure, but instead of being formed as an open structure, is provided with three separate compartments 29, 30 and 31, which in the case of the illustration given in conncc tion with the description of the structure shown in Fig. 1, would each hold an amount of material substantially equal to thc capacity of the digester 13. The bottoms of the compartments 29 and 30 are hopper-shaped as indicated at 32 in Fig. 7, the discharge portions 33 of these hoppers being controlled y pivotally supported valves 34 which, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 7 prevent the flow of material through them, these valves being connected with any suitable operating mechanism (not shown) for shiftin them into and out of closed position. he bottom of the compartment 31 is of hopper shape as illustrated at 35 and opens into the blower apparatus 11,

In the operation of the apparatus of Fi 6 and 7, the valves 34 coperating with t e bottoms of the compartments 29 and 30 are alternately operated, after withdrawing the particles from the compartment 31, to lower the particles in the compartment 30 into the compartment 31 and the particles in the compartment 29 into the compartment 30, the effect of this operation bein to insure the uniform passage of the partie es through the hin 28 so that each particle will remain therein substantially for the same length of time as ever;r other particle to produce the moisture equalization desired.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 8 and 9 differs from that hcreinbefore described pri marily in the fact that the equalizing bins instead of hein located below the drier 10, are, located directly above the digesters which are to he ted therefrom. In the case l of this apparatus the drier represented at 10 is connected with the blower mechanism 11;* which, when the drier is a continuously discharging structurc, operates continuously to force the dried and heated articles from the drier 10 upwardhr throng the pi e 11b from which they ischarge throng the branches 11 thereof into theu er inlet ends of the equalizing bins, in lcated in these guresat 36, these equalizing bins` being provided in duplicate and each superpose 'on and ope'ning into a digester 13 located below it,with valves 13* controlling the discharge of the particles from the bins 36 into the digesters. i

The bins 36 which are so constructed in any suitable way, as by the vertical series of inverted trough-shaped cross-pieces 37 as explained of the .construction in Fig. 5, to insure the uniform lowering of the articles in these bins during the drawing o of particles therefrom at their lower ends, should be so proportioned that in the operation of the apparatus the articles to be treated in the digesters 13 Willi) remain in the bins 36 a. sulficient length of time to effect the equalization of the moisture therein to the desired degree. The comments herein made as to the various conditions affecting this matter of equalization, apply to the apparatus now being ex plained and it will thcrel'ore be suiiicient to say that, assuming the particular case upon the basis of which the structure of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive was described, the binsv36 should each be of substr: ntiall three times the capacity of the digester w lich is charged therefrom, and the drier 10 should be of such capacity that it wil" supply the dried particles to the bins 36 in such amounts as to insure all of the particles discharged from the bins 36 into the digesters 13, being in Contact with each other for the length of time neces-V sary to produce the desired moisture equalization na'mel in the particular example illustrated 16 liours.

In the construction illustrated iuFigs. 10 and 11, a battery of equalizing bins are provided, these bins bein drawn upon succeesively to furnish the c iarges of particles to the digesters which are shown as two in number, instead of rovidin a single bin and drawin a portion of t e contents of this bin eac time the digesters' are to be charged.

In this arrangement the equalizing bins arc` represented at 37, 38 and 39, these bins being connected at their upper ends throughl the medium of branch pipes 40, 41 and 42 with a pipe 43 openin into the blower 11 which connects with t e discharge portion of the drier 10, the branches 40, 41 and 42 *l having valves 43 therein. The lower ,discharge ends of the bins 37, 38 and 39 connect with branch pipes 44, 45 and 46 respectively, these pipes containing valves 47 and uniti with a pipe 48 connected with a blower d?,

the outlet end of lwhich is connected with a pipe 50`which is provided'at its upperend.

into the .upper with branches 51 opening 1 ends of receiving bins 12 ke the bin 12 of Fig. l, these hin's being located over the digestcrs 13 and discharging into the latter respectively through the vnlved ortions '12, It 'will be understand from t e foregoing that the course of the particles is through the drier 10, 'thence by thesuttion means 11* into Vthe equalizin'g bin section of the apparatus, thence to the receiving bins 12 under the action of the blower di?, and then into the digestible 13.

In accordance with the gene ment shown in these igures, t cause' the purtirlcs nite ieuaing the drier 10 to remain in the r uctiae inw IE7.I 23S and 39 for sui-li n leu-tls et time us will insure the eihwtiug of he desired legere of moistul'a.: eqluiiizutiou buh-:wf the les jmss4 into the fiigesteis If. 'ibis ngciuent is iuid out upon the assumptions given by way of exemple in eonnertion with the description of the mush-fiction shown in. Figs, 1 to Li inclusive nuunfiy that it requires ubout B hours to digest :L elim-ge of wood fibel.' in the digestion, that il nvnires :tpproxiiuntely 1G hours to client insistere rqimlirmlion fer uil prima iuel purposes und that the apparatus is in continuous opera-- tion, und upon these assumptions by muy" it example, euch of the bins 5ST, in; ,nui if would'lnlve substuntiuliy the sanne rupnfrity as the two digesters 1li [insuline-ii. or in ether words u ilntrge troni :any one of the sind bins would be suiiieicn to barge both di gesters, though it Wil! be nnrlerstmid that if desired, but one digester muy be employed in which case the cepud 'ty of euri: et seid equulizing bins would F realuuell ambetantiully one-heli.y or e battery ei' more digesters muy be employml in nihivh euse the cnpacity'of the equelizing bins would be correspondingly increased.

In the operation oi the upynuuflns, the particles as they are fiisfinu 51ml. from the drier 10 ure, by inunipulniingj the vulves 43, introduced into one et' the equalizng bins which supplied the ches-g; then wing oper ated on in the tiigeslers anni .is the bins 37, 38 and 39 :ne sin-,resr-zi'sely ennuie@ oi' their contents te charge the disasters i3, the valves 43 are munipuiutecl to fili these bins es they bec-ome empty. it will thus be understood that upon the particular basis 0f o eration and assumption oi' renditions as a ove stated, all of the particles in any one of the bins 37, 38 und 39 will remain therein for ut least 16 hours, some of them remaining` longer us will be manifest, this being sui'icient to equnlise the nioistureeontent to the desired degres;

lmpructising my impreved irietii-fsi i grt for to provide for the equulizetien ef the moisture-content of the pmtieles ot metei nist! "riai, under heat, inasmuch es thereby the l1'r will be understood from the fore oing finit in eil of the forms of apparatus own .-'l iierribed, provision is made fer causing the particles of material and which are oi non-uniform moisture-content, to remain in eontnct Witl'l efth other u suiiicient length mi time to @unse the moisture in the partiics te be substuntiully equzilized, before the @infinies are presented for further trentinent, as for example in the digestcrs, und while the purticular forms of apparatus shown :nul described ure desirabie for currying out my invention, it will be readily unieri-stood that my invention may be prnei'ised by such apparatus in modified or changed. condition and furthermore by any other suitable apparatus.

Furthermnre while ll have described my invention for the manufacture of wood pulp, do not Wish to be understood :is intending tu limit it thereto as it muybe used Vwhere it is desired that impregnnting ihiilis, other than those required for digesting Wood ber be employed.

What l. claim us new und desire to secure by Letters Patent is:`-

1 The process of treating to an impiegL hating iiuid picecsqot material of non-uni forni moisturemntent requiring sulistmitiul uniformity of moisturecontent for uniformity of treatment thereof by `the im prognating iuid, `which consists in etuis-ing the pieces of noneunii'orm moisture-content to be in (zent-net with euch other for u length of time suiieient to effect substantially uniform dissemination through the pieces of the moisture therein, to substantially equalize the moisture-content of the pierce, und subsequently thereto treating the pieces to the imprrgnuting Huid.

2, The process of treating to :in inlpreg' nuting fluid pieocs of material of nouuniform moistureeontcut requiring substantial. uniformity of 1110isture-coutent for uniformity of treatment thereof by the impregneting finiti, which consists in causing the pieces of non-uniform moisture-content to be in contact with each other in a closed container for a` length of time suliicient to effect substantially uniform dissemination through the pieces, of the moisture therein, tu snbstuntiuily equalize the moisture-content of the pieces, and subsequently thereto treating the pieces to the impregnuting fluid.

8. The process of treating to an impregnutifng iiuid pieces of materiel einen-umferm meisturecentent requiring substantiel uniformity of moisture-content for uniformity of treatment thereof by the impregnuting Huid, which consists 1n subjecting the pieces ef non-uniform moisture-content te a: drying operation for partially drying said pieces to s ynorhunifornfx moisturecon tent, thereafter causing the-piemonm inning fluid nenes 20 condition to be 30 uniformity of moisture-shutout for uur 4 5 hating fluid 50 pieces to travel uniform moisture-content to be in Contact with each other for e len h of time suicient to ei'eet nubtnntia` y uniform dissemination through the pieces of the mois- 5 ture thereinj to suhstnntinlly equalize the nioisturoooutent of the pieces, and Subsequent-ly thereto treating the pieces to the inipregnnting fluid.

4. The procese of treating to nn impreg of material of non-uni form nioistme-content requiring substantial uniformity nf moisture-oontent for uniformity of treatment thereof by the impregmating Huid, which consists 1n subjecting the pieces of iiolruniform moisture-content tn u drying operation for partially drying said iii-woe: to noiruniforni 1noisture-oontent, thereafter cunning the pieces of nonuui forni moisturrr-coutent, und while in heated in Contact with euch other for a length of tinusufiieient to effect sub .etuntinlly uniform dissemination through the pieces of the moisture therein, to substantially equalize the moisture-content of the pieces. und subsequently thereto treating the pie-ees to the impregnating Huid.

5. The prooeee of treating to au impregnuting fluid pieces of material of non-uni form moisturecoutent requiring substantial forinitr of treatment thereof by the iinprr imting fluid, which consists in feeding e piece` of nonuniforni moisturecruiter@- through a predetermined path end ennuh tnneously therewith subjecting them to heut for partially drying the pieces to '.1 non` uniform moisture-content, discharging saliti pietre.` into :i container and maintaining them therein in close Contact with euch other 41') for u length of time sutieient t0 elfe-ct substantial disseiuiiintirni of the moisture through the pieces, und thereafter v[renting the iii-ees to the impregnating luid.

Li. The process of treating to an impreg pieces of material of non-uniform moisture-content requiring substantial uniformity of moisture-content for uniformity of treatment thereof by the mpregmeting Huid, which consists in causing the in a cnntinuous course and oourse to be first subjected ation for Dartallv drying in traveling such to a drying ope the pieces to s, non-uniform n1oisture-content, thereafter. causing the pieees to be nmintnined in relatively el. e Contact with euch other for e length of time suiieient to effect substantial dissemination of the moinq ture through the pieces, thereafter treating the pieces t@ the inipregnating inhi.

T. r[he nrt of manufacturing wood pulp from pieces of Wood fiber of non-uniform moisture-content, which consists in causing the pieces of wood fiber of non-uniform moisture-content to be in Contact with eheh other for :i length of time sufficient to effect Substantially uniform dissemination through the pieces of the moisture therein, to suh- Htnntiuily equalize the moisturehcontent of the pieces, and subsequently thereto Subjecting the Suid pieces.- to finiti treatment for reillu-ing thorn to wood pulp.

S. The art of manufacturing wood Hulp from pieces of wood fiber of 11on-uni 'orm moiStura-content, which Consists in Subjecting the pieeeso wood liber of non-uniform moisture-content ,to a drying operation for mrtiully drying said pieces to :i non-uniiorm moisturenontent, thereafter causing the pieces of noinuniforu: nn ure content to be in. Contact with meh other for u length of time suflicient to effect subefnntmlly uniform dissemination through the pieces; ot' the moisture therein. to snhstuntiaiiy equiniv ier the nioieturwcm:tent of the 1in-roer:e und time@ nter subjecting the said piene-s. to fluid reu'izwnt them to 'wood pullp.

tor reducing E). The nrt of manufacturing wood pu p imsu ai ies of wood ber of non-uniform nieren 1e-eontent, which eonsimV in subectint4 he pieces oi wood fiber et' nowuni orm monture-eontent to heat for pnriilly drying anni piece-s to a non-uniform iuoieture` content thereafter reusing the partially dried pieces of non-uniform inoisturweontent to be 1n contact with each other.` romtition, for :i length of time fuiiioient to et'leet substuntiaiy uniform diseininntion Vthrough thepieoes of thenioistnre therein, to substantially equalize the nnrinture-eon* tent of the pieces, and subsequently theret, subjecting the Suid pieces to Hui-fi ireatmen for reducing them to wood pulp.

while in heutedi 

